Fire Blazes Through Tinley Park Home

TINLEY PARK, IL — A fire blazed through the garage of a Tinley Park home early Tuesday morning. Nobody was hurt, but the home is now uninhabitable, according to homeowner Todd Gryczka.

Gryczka told Patch the fire broke out shortly after 6 a.m. He said he was awoken by the sound of the garage door opening at his home in the 17400 block of Valley View Drive. Knowing he and his wife didn't open the door, he walked over to his garage door, surprised by what he saw next.

"We heard a loud bang, which almost shook the bed. So I ran downstairs, opened up the door between the laundry room and the garage, and there were flames everywhere," Gryczka said. "I just yelled up to my wife, 'Get out! Get out! We're on fire!' We grabbed our phones, and we just ran out the back patio door and called 911."

Gryczka told Patch he and his wife were the only ones home at the time. Two cars, both totaled, were in the garage — one was a 1965 Buick Riviera. Another two cars on the driveway caught on fire and were also totaled, according to Gryczka.

The homeowner told Patch he is unaware of what could have caused the fire. An investigation was still underway when Patch arrived at the scene around 9:45 a.m., and no fire officials were immediately available for comment in person or over the phone.

Gryczka said there was water and smoke damage on the first floor of the home, and smoke damage on the second floor. Windows to the home were broken by fire officials.

Neighbors who witnessed the fire said they heard a loud boom, but didn't think anything of it, as construction is currently taking place on the block. They were caught by surprise when they noticed their neighbor's home was engulfed in flames.

Although the home is uninhabitable, Gryczka is happy to be alive.

"Thankfully we got out alive, that's all that matters — this can all be fixed," Gryczka said.